Family of British couple held by Taliban fear for their health

A British couple in their seventies have been detained in Afghanistan, and their family has expressed concerns about their health after a court hearing was postponed. Peter Reynolds, 79, and his wife, Barbie, 75, were arrested on February 1st while returning to their residence in Bamiyan province. Currently, the family is anxiously awaiting developments in the case and closely monitoring their health.

According to their daughter, the couple was taken out of prison on Saturday to attend a hearing, only to be locked on the floor with other prisoners for four hours after being told they would not be seen by a judge, before being returned to prison. Their daughter, Sarah Entwistle, stated that her mother "collapsed from malnutrition" and her father's health is also "deteriorating," emphasizing that "they have not been charged with anything." The delay in the trial has undoubtedly heightened the family's concerns.

Sarah said that the couple learned "at the last minute" on Saturday that they would not be seen by a judge. "The prison guards said that another judge would handle the case, and we still hope they can get a fair trial next week," she said. The couple is currently being held separately and were unable to meet on Saturday. The family hopes that the new judge can hear the case as soon as possible and make a fair judgment.

Prior to their arrest, the Reynolds couple married in the Afghan capital of Kabul in 1970 and have been running training programs in Afghanistan for 18 years, including one for mothers and children. Although the Taliban prohibits girls over the age of 12 from receiving education and does not allow women to work, their work apparently had the approval of local authorities. The Taliban announced a ban on women working for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in 2022 and said in December 2024 that it would close any NGOs that employ women. Their work helped the local community to some extent, but it did not prevent their arrest.

According to Sarah, her mother only receives one meal a day and needs help climbing four flights of stairs to reach the judge's room. "Mom's health is deteriorating rapidly, and she collapsed from malnutrition," she said. "She and the other women only get one meal a day, while the men get three." She added, "Dad's health is also continuing to deteriorate, and his head and left arm are shaking." Last week, the family called on the Taliban to release them during Ramadan as a gesture of goodwill. Their daughter said, "There are still no charges against them, and no evidence of a crime has been submitted." Taliban official Abdul Matin Kani told the BBC on February 24: "A range of factors are being considered, and after assessment, we will work to release them as soon as possible."

"We are certainly very disappointed with this delay," Sarah said. "It makes no sense, especially given that the Taliban has repeatedly stated that the situation is due to a misunderstanding and that they will be released 'soon'." The UK has closed its embassy in Kabul and withdrawn diplomats after the Taliban regained power. The Foreign Office said the government's ability to provide assistance to British nationals in Afghanistan is "extremely limited" and advised against travel to the country. This stance of the British government further complicates the release of the Reynolds couple.

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